Knitting-machine.



ALBERT M. PIGEON, OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILDMAN MFG.

00., OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

Application filed April 8, 1915. Serial No. 20,053.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT M. PIGEON, residing a t Norristown, in thecounty of Mont gomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machines, whereof the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates more particularly to a knitting machine having aneedle cylinder on which spring beard needles are mounted forreciprocation andwhichbeards are closed for shedding the loops byindividual pressers.

An object of the invention is to provide means for engaging the springbeard of the. needle for preventing vibration of the beard, when saidneedle is at the lower part of its stroke, and particularly at the time.when the needle is reversing its movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide'a needle cylinderwherein the partitions between the needle grooves are cutaway at theirupper ends so as to prevent the beards of the needles striking the same,and so as to permit the pressers being thickened and insure. theirengagement with the spring beards of the needles.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration, one embodiment of theinvention, Figure l, is a partial vertical sectional view through theneedle cylinder and the supporting ring at the upper end'thereo'f,showing my 1111 proved beardpresser and the construction of needlegroove. Fig. II, is

a view similar to Fig. I, at a point in-th'e cylinder to show in sectionthe cam for 'engaging the beard pressers. FigLIII, is a side view of aportion of they upper end of the needle cylinder, showing the springbeard needles and the plzessers which cooperate with the same in theposition corresponding to that of Fig. I. Fig. IV, is a plan view of asection of the needle cylinder, showing the spring beard needles, thepressers and the web supporters. Fig. V, is a cross sectional'view onthe line V, V, of Fig. I. Fig. VI,'is a perspective view of one of myimproved beard pressers. Fig. Vll, is a perspective View of one of theyarn supporters. Fig. VIII, is a vertical sectional view through theupper part ofthe needle cylinder and a portion of the supporting ring,the needle and the presser be ng removed; and Fig. IX, isla verticalsectional Patented Jan.

view showing the needle cylinder, yarn support, spring beard needle andpresser with the needle at the lower end of its reciproca- 1on. Theinvention consists generally in providing a' needle cylinder havingneedle grooves in which reciprocate spring" beard needles, beardpressers, one for each needle, which beard pressers are so constructedas to engage the beards of the needles to prevent vibration of thespring beards, during the lower portions of their stroke and particu- Ilarly when the needles are reversing. their direction of movement, whichis likely to result in the crystallization of the inetal forming thespring beard, thereby rendering them fragileand subject to fracture.

The portions between the groovesof the needle cylinder are cut awayat'the;upper ends so that the beard presser'rnay be-thick ened and thusform a widened surface which engages the s )ring heard of the needleandthis widened surface insures that the spring beard will alwaysbeengaged though the samemay be sprung slightly laterally. The cuttingaway of the partitions forming the needle groovesat the upper end of'the-needleeylinder insures that the spring beard of the needle when theneedle is lowered will not strike the rib even though the spring beardbe slightly bent out of normal position. Referring more in detail to thedrawings, I have shown a needle cylinder 1, which is of the usualconstruction and is provided with spared partitions 2, forming needlegrooves Mounted in the grooves 3, are needle jacks 4, which are providedwith butts 5. Each Tack carries a needle 6, which is provided with aspring board 7. The needles are detat-hablyconnected'to the jacks andare reciprocated vertically in the needle grooves by suitable cams whichengage the butts (3n the needle jacks.

At the upper end of the needle cylinder is a supporting ring 8, which isclamped to the needle cylinder by suitable set screws 9,

.which are adapted to'bear against a clamping ring 10. Mounted insuitable grooves in the ring 8, are yarn supporters 11, which are alsoprovided with butts 12, adapted to be engaged by suitable ealns formoving thesame radially of the needle cylinder, Those yarnsupporters areof the usual construction. The needles and ]:l'(:l(S .are held in theneedlecyhnder by suitable elastic bands 13,

. gages the notches 16, in the beard pressers and holds the samedetachably in the needle grooves; That is to say, the lower end of thebeard presser is tapered at 18, while the lower face of the notch 16, islikewise tapered but in an opposite direction, and this permits a beardpresser to be withdrawn by force applied to the upper end thereof orinserted ina like manner at will. The lower end of the beard presser istermed with a slightly rounded projection 19, which bears against theneedle and serves as a ful-, crum point for the presser. The pressersare slightly oscillated about this rounded projection by suitable cams20, which are carried by the supporting ring 8. These cams may beadjustably and yieldingly mounted if desired. They are of the usualconstruction and further description is not thought necessary.

The partitions forming the needle grooves are cut away at 2 1, and fromthe level 22, to the upper end of the cylinder and substantially to thefull depth of the needle channel leaving only a projecting rib whichisof substantially the diameter of the shank of the needle.

The upper portion of the beard presser is thickened as at 23, Fig. VI.This thicken ing of the presser affords a substantially broad engagingsurface 35. The top of the beard presser'is provided with a cam inclineligand said beard presser is formed with a notch 27. This notch 37, isso positioned relative to the upper edge of the needle cylinder and theweb supporters, as. to provide a clearance space, whereby a previouslyformed loop may be shed over the top of the needle during the formationof a stitch. The broadened surface 25, is so shaped and proportionedthat when the needle beard has passed the notch 27, it will engage saidsurface and remain in engagen'ient with said surface during theremainder of the downward stroke of the needle and during the first partof the upward 'or return stroke of the needle and regardless of whetherthe cams 20, are in engagement with thebeard pressers or not. Thisinsures that the spring board will be under tension during the lowerportion of its stroke and particularly at the time when the motion ofthe needle is ab ruptly reversed. By cutting away the partition 2, ofthe needle cylimler at the upper end thereof. I am not only able toincrease the width of the beard engaging surface25,

' on the presser for the needle, but I also in sure that the beard ofthe needle will not strike the ribs on the needle cylinder, if saidbeard is slightly bent laterally or displaced.

I have found that when the beards of the needles are free to vibrateduring the abrupt reversal of the movement at the lowermost point in theneedle wave, such vibration ultimately results in the crystallization ofthe needle beards and thereby renders them very weak, thus causingexcessive breakage. In fine gage it is essential to bring the needlesdown through the fabric at as steep an angle as possible in drawing thenew loops and also in backing them up to the idle level and this greatlyincreases the vibration above referred to. By my improved form of beardpresser where'the spring beard is under tension at this criti all time,I am able to eliminate all this vibration and thus preventcrystallization which would otherwise result.

It is to be understood that changes in the details of construction andarrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 7

llaving thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a seriesof spring beard needles carried thereby, and means for engaging thebeards of the needlesfor closing said needle beards for shedding theyarn loops over the same. and for engaging the beards of the needleswhen said needles are at the lower end of their-stroke :for preventingvibration of the needle beards upon reversal ofthe movement of theneedles.

2. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder, a seriesof sprin beard needles carried thereby, a heart presser for each needlemounted on the nee- 'dle cylinder and having means tor engaging andclosing. the heard of the needle for shedding the yarn loops over thesame, and means for engaging the needle heard when the needle is at thelower end of its reciprocation for preventing-vibration of said nee dlebeard upon the reversal of the movement of the needle.

3. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder. a seriesof spring beard needles carried thereby, a beard presser for each needlemounted on the'needle cylinder, means for engaging said beard pressers:for causing said pressers to close the beards for shedding the yarnloops over the same, and said pressers having means for engaging theneedle beards when the needles are at the lower end of theirreciprocation for prelocated in said grooves, a beard presser for i-each needle located in each needle groove,

cams for engaging the upper ends of said .beard pressers for swingingthe same to close the beards of the needles to permit the yarn loops topassover the same, said beard pressers having means for engaging thespring beard needles located in said grooves, said partitions being cutaway at the upper ends thereof to a point below the lowest extremeposition of the needle'beards during the reciprocation of the needles, abeard presser for each needle located :between' the partitions on thecylinder, said beard pressers being thickened above the ends of the cutaway partitions, so as to provide a wide bearing surface for engagingthe beard of the needle.

G. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder having aseries of spaced partitions forming needle grooves, spring beard needleslocated in said grooves, said partitions being cut away at the upperends thereof to a point below the lowest extreme position of the needlebeards during the reciprocation of the needles,-a beard presser for eachneedle located in the groove between the partitions and extending abovethe cut away ends of the partitions, said beard presser being thickenedabove said ends of the partitions to provide a wide bearing surface forthe beard of the needle, and said pressers bein constructed so o engagethe beards of the needles while t e needles are at the lower ends oftheir stroke for preventing the beards from vibrating.

7. In a knitting machine, the combination of needle cylinder having aseries of spaced partitions forming needle grooves, said par- ,titlonsbeing cut away at their upper ends,

a series of spring beard needles mounted in said groovesga beard presserfor each needle mounted in. the needle groove, and extending above theneedle cylinder, said beard presser having a cam surface at its upperend and thickened to form a wide surface for engaging the beard oftheneedle for closing the same to shed the yarn loop, and a cut awayportion beneath said widened portion, providing a clearance space forsaid loop.

8. In aknitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder having aseries of spaced partitions forming needle grooves, said partitionsbeing cut away at their upper ends, a se ies of spring beard needlesmounted in said grooves, a beard presser for each needle mounted in theneedle groove, and extending above the needle cylinder, said beardpresser having a cam surface at its upper end and thickened to form awide surface for engaging the beard of the needle for closing the same oshed the yarn loop, and a cut away portion beneath said widened portionfor forming a clearance space for said loop, eachbeard presser beingthickened beneath said cut away portion and constructed so as to form awide surface for engaging the spring beard of the needle while saidneedle is at the lower end of its stroke and reversing its movement.

9. In a knitting machine, the combination of a needle cylinder having aseries of grooves formed therein, a spring beard needle for each groove,a beard presser for each needle located in the needle groove, said beardpresser having a rounded lower end adapted to engage the needle, atapered upper end, a notch beneath said tapered upper end, and a widenedsurface below said notch adapted to engage the heard of the needle whensaid needle is at the lower end'of its stroke.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this fifth day of April, 1915.-

ALBERT M. rIeEoN.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON.

